Sleep is one of the most common challenges parents face. Unfortunately, many well-meaning parents unintentionally make mistakes that contribute to poor sleep. Here are the top 4 mistakes I see—and how you can fix them to improve your baby’s sleep.
1. Inconsistent Sleep Schedules
Children thrive on routine, especially when it comes to sleep. Allowing inconsistent bedtimes or nap times can confuse your baby’s internal clock and lead to overtiredness or difficulty settling.
Fix: Set regular times for morning wake time, naps, and bedtime, adjusting wake windows according to your baby’s age.
2. Feeding to Sleep
While it can be tempting to nurse or bottle-feed your baby to sleep, this creates a sleep association that can lead to frequent night wakings. Babies wake up and expect the same conditions they fell asleep in to help them back to sleep.
Fix: Try separating feeding from sleep by making sure your baby is fed well before beginning the bedtime routine. If your baby wakes during the night, do a diaper change before offering a feeding and always put the baby back to bed awake.
3. Skipping Naps
Some parents believe that skipping naps will lead to better nighttime sleep, but the opposite is true. An overtired baby often has trouble settling and will wake up more frequently during the night and may cause early morning wakings.
Fix: Make sure your baby is getting appropriate naps for their age. A well-rested baby sleeps better at night.
4. Relying on Sleep Aids
Pacifiers, rocking, feeding, etc., but if your baby relies on them to fall asleep, they might wake up needing the same aid during the night.
Fix: Encourage your baby to fall asleep independently by gradually reducing their reliance on sleep aids.
While these fixes can help, sleep challenges are often multi-layered and require a tailored approach. As a sleep consultant, I work with families to identify the root causes of sleep struggles and create personalized plans to ensure long-lasting improvements.
If you’re ready to fix these mistakes and give your family the gift of better sleep, reach out for a consultation today!
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